It is our true belief that there is a “forever family” for each of our waiting orphans with special needs. The purpose of Reece’s Rainbow is to raise funds as adoption grants, to help potential adoptive families with the high cost of giving these children the life they so richly deserve.

Your donations and advocacy turn the child on the left into the child on the right!

This page includes the profiles of those children with more than $2,500+ in grant funding available. Put on your WARRIOR shoes and help us find families! PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE, that others will see it and take that leap of faith to save a child in need.

Carol loves sitting and rocking on her hobby horse! She is enjoys listening to music and rocking on her horse. She can sit on the bed steadily and can stand with hands holding onto the bed rails. Sometimes when she sees other children take her favorite toy she will try and take it back.

Update from Sept 2016: In May 2014, Carol went into the care of a foster family and has been living with them ever since. She is currently in kindergarten and has made big progress! Carol is happy, active, talkative, and cute. She can say many daily words. Some words are clear and some are not, but they are all understandable. Sometimes she will sing songs or count from 1 to 10 for her foster grandparents on the way home. After she goes home from school, she will change her shoes and put her school shoes in the cabinet. She will then tell her foster grandma what she wants to eat. She enjoys greeting her neighbors by saying “hello.” If she sees something she does not understand, she will ask her foster grandma, “Grandma, what is this?” When she wants to go out to play, she will tell her foster grandparents “go to play.” If you call her name, she will reply “I am…” or “Ah, what do you want?” If you ask her what her name is, she will tell you her full Chinese name. If you ask her some simple questions, she will reply. Carol’s motor skills are good. She can hold a pen to draw and can write “1.” After drawing, she will put away the pencils in the drawer.

Carol eats with a spoon and is very clean when eating. After eating, she will try to wash her dish. Carol is potty trained, but needs an adult to help her wipe. She loves music and specially loves singing and dancing when she hears music she likes. She has good social skills and is very attached to her foster grandparents. She gets along well with her foster sisters as well. Each night, she will ask her older foster sister to sleep with her. In the past, she would grab her foster sister’s pillow and play or tease her, but she doesn’t do that anymore. Carol’s foster grandma is more serious and her foster grandpa spoils her, so she prefers the foster grandpa and knows to ask him when she has requests. When guests come over, she will show her drawings to the guests. She does not like to eat vegetables, but does like to eat chicken legs and wings and is very clean when eating them. She also enjoys watermelon and bananas, but does not like sour fruit. Carol enjoys playing with her dolls, watching cartoons, and going outside with her foster grandparents. Carol has down syndrome, but is clearly quite high functioning. She couldn’t be doing better, but it’s definitely time she found a forever family of her own!

$3,208.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Boy, born June 2012
PRC
Ankle joint contracture of both knees and muscular tension of limbs reduced

Ezrah can keep his head steadily and can hold his head up; he can stand up with wrists held slightly; he can recognize the aunt who cares him, can make sound of ma-ma, nai-nai, can shake and stare at the rattles, can take a block in a hand and take another one, can reach and grasp the toy beyond, and can shake the rattles consciously; he can chase the toy with hands and can look for the dropped toy; he can react to the game of hide and seek and looking oneself in the mirror; he is very curious and likes to discover and recognize all kinds of never seen objects and fresh things. He cares about the changers of around people and things.

Ezrah has an extroverted personality, is active, likes to play games with peers; he likes colorful toys with making sounds; he responds actively to stimulation of new things or strangers.

In an update from January 2016: Ezrah isn’t receiving any therapies for his conditions, and can’t yet stand or walk on his own. He gets around very well by crawling using his arms. Ezrah can speak in simple phrases, and express his ideas easily, as well as follow simple instructions from caregivers

April 2016 update: Ezrah is active and outgoing. Ezraht’s mental development is the same as kids the same age. His lower limbs make it so that he cannot walk. He knows and will tell adults when he needs to go to the bathroom. He can use the baby toilet by himself. Ezrah is well behaved and obedient.

He cannot walk, but he can move on his bottom with hand coordination. His fine motor skills are good and he can pick up rice. He cannot go to school due to his special need. Ezrah has good emotional development. He can read faces. He is attached to his foster mother and will share food with her. Ezrah can express his needs well and can follow simple directions. He is a very smart child! He can call the familiar people properly. Ezrah likes to play games with his foster family and other kids. He has been in the same foster family since March of 2014. He is not on any medication.

$3,457.60
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Shannon is an outgoing girl who loves to talk! She may only be able to say simple words but she can be the life of the party. She has been diagnosed with Down syndrome and has two mild heart defects (an ASD and a VSD). She is also a Hep B carrier. Shannon’s caregivers say that she lives life just like the rest of her friends in the orphanage. She loves to eat, play, and watch cartoons. Shannon is always playing and smiling!

UPDATE: Rule number one…never leave scissors out where Shannon can get them. She currently has little to no bangs due to an attempt to style her own hair. However, even a bad haircut can’t take away from Shannon’s sweet spirit and lovable personality! She is currently 5 years old, and waiting very patiently for her mama and papa. Shannon has Down syndrome, an ASD and VSD (which have not been repaired) , and is a HepB carrier. Shannon came to the orphanage at about 7 months of age, already able to sit and crawl. She has good motor skills, but needs help with her speech. Her receptive speech is good, and she follows directions. Shannon can use 3 word sentences. Shannon is a sweet and huggable girl who is very curious. She loves to play with her friends, and thrives in a noisy environment. Shannon is ready to be part of a loving family, who will help her reach her full potential! Video is available.

$2,636.34
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Boy, born March 2011
PRC
Down syndrome and missing fingers on left hand

From a family who met him: “Sweet Olivier! I had so much fun with him when I was in his orphanage and am saddened that his family hasn’t found him yet. This little guy was just incredible!!! Oliver was born in March of 2011 and completely stole my heart. This little boy has Down Syndrome and a partial left hand. As the mother of a child with a similar limb difference I can tell you missing a few fingers isn’t going to slow Oliver down at all! Just by spending a few hours with him I got the feeling he is a very bright and curious little boy. He even tried to imitate me speaking English by repeating the word “book.” You can see for yourself by clicking watching this video:http://vimeo.com/78018326

Olivier is diagnosed with down syndrome and a partial left hand. He lives in a foster family on the grounds of the orphanage and participates in the Infant and Parenting program. His report describes him as extroverted, active, and energetic. He likes to communicate and play games with children. Olivier’s favorite activities are playing with blocks, balls and riding bike. He can walk, can transfer positions when squatting, he can kick the football, go upstairs and downstairs with hands held. He can build a tower of 4 blocks, can dismantle the toy and assemble it again. He is very clever and can express his needs. An orphanage project team visited with Olivier last summer.

$4,909.60
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Boy, born July 2008
PRC
Zach is an adorable boy diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy. His limb, intelligence, and language development is delayed compared to peers.

Zach had some new medical testing done and the results indicate that it may be likely that he has Progressive Muscular Dystrophy and not Cerebral Palsy. A family should be prepared for that probable diagnosis.

Listed: March 13, 2013

From Zach’s host family (hosted December 2014)
Zach is a lovely 6-year-old boy and an absolute delight. He has a joyful and cheerful disposition, a sweet spirit, and an infectious smile. He is smart and resourceful in his interactions and playing. He enjoys playing with cars, dolls and animals, flying helicopters, and almost any mechanical objects. He enjoys playing pretend games, like pulling pretend luggage around the house and pretending to cook and serve us with play food, plates, cups, saucers, etc. He loves music and often sings as he goes about his day, and he’s been enjoying learning to play his new harmonica. He interacts well with other children: in our case with our 7- and 8-year-old daughters. He also has a good memory and surprised us by quickly learning things like where all of our dishes go and where we turn to get to our house. He has adapted so well to life in a family, and loves the bedtime rituals of bathing, brushing teeth, getting into his pajamas, and reading; but he also has an endearing habit of making sure the proper lights are turned off, doors are locked where they need to be, etc. He clearly is proud to show he can take on big-kid responsibilities. Zach has to work harder than most children to climb up steps and to get himself up off the floor. But he does navigate steps well, though he needs a boost at times getting into vans or other high places. In December, he was still able to walk normally, except that he has to be more careful than other kids in negotiating uneven surfaces, and steps. He doesn’t let this slow him down or limit his activities. On playgrounds, even with many unfamiliar children, he is not inhibited about climbing the equipment and riding down slides. He accepts help sometimes from us or from our children; other times he wants to show that he can do things alone even if it is harder for him. Zach can sometimes act like a much younger boy. He has a strong stubborn streak, which will sometimes manifest itself in a tantrum. Those tantrums did lessen over the weeks, however. He also enjoys being held, cuddled, and paid attention to and will come and say “Mama bao bao” when he wants to be picked up and carried. As our 7-year-old (without prompting from us) wrote in her journal, “Zach is the best boy I have ever met. He is cheerful and happy.” The medical evaluations we were able to do point to significant medical challenges ahead for Zach, and he will need a loving family to support him through those and ensure that he has the best care possible. Zach loves being a part of a family and will be a blessing and joy for whomever is lucky enough to adopt him.

$2,800.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

From a family that met him 11/15:
“Mathis” (he will be 3 years old in winter) also has delayed speech and mental delay. He did not use any words while we were there. He cannot sit, crawl, stand, or walk. We did not see him move about the floor, he needed to be held. This is frustrating for him. We did not observe him using his hands. I tried to place toys in his hands a he did not grab them. He did not laugh or smile.

$1,499.63
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Brychan is an outgoing boy who has a ready smile and likes to play with other children. He is diagnosed with down syndrome. Brychan is described as a very happy child. He understands simple instructions and follows directions well. Brychan lives with a foster family on the grounds of the orphanage and participates in the Little Sister program. An orphanage project team visited with Brychan last summer.

$3,185.80
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Codey is a cute little almost 6 year old boy with Down Syndrome. His functioning, described as “medium” by a caregiver, was corrected by his teacher, who described him as “better than medium”! He can learn, and he speaks in meaningful language.

Codey is very cute, although he was very shy with us, strangers. He needs some physical help. He wears diapers and he needs some help dressing but he is making progress. He is described as having “good focus”, “curious”, and “naughty”. The latter has a very positive connotation in China, where naughty means, smart, funny and clever. He plays very well and interactively with the other children. It is obvious that he is really loved by the staff and his teacher. Codey has been healthy, with no significant medical history or surgeries. He looks clean, well dressed, well nourished, and well cared for. The most touching part of Codey is his attachment to another child in his group, Sasha, a little girl his age who also has Down Syndrome. They have a very close bond with each other. Cody attends a special class in the orphanage where her is taught by a special ed teacher, along with a group of peers who have DS. This little boy appears to have a lot of potential. There are videos of Codey.

The agency has a $2000 grant available for Codey.

$3,344.39
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Angelica has Down syndrome. She has a congenital heart defect — VSD, ASD 11, PDA.

Angelica is said to have a moderate intellectual disability. She does not speak; she communicates through gestures and onomatopoeia — seemingly inarticulate sounds, playing voice. She understands simple commands.

$3,501.05
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Ezra has had a shunt placed, and is doing better. His adoption may necessitate consultations with medical personnel, to safely transport him home.

From someone who met Ezra in 2013: Ezra is absolutely precious! He is sweet and adorable and oh so lovable! He laughs when his toes are tickled, or when someone around him laughs or talks or sings to him. He often smiles or laughs so hard his chubby cheekers make his eyes close. He ha s learned to blow spit bubbles and coo. It is hard for me to tell if he is able to use his limbs normally, but he is able to move from his back to his side with little or no assistance. He has not yet learned to play with toys, but he has a very strong grip and enjoys holding my finger. I was told he can see, but not very well. I observed his eyes moving rapidly from side to side, and sometimes appearing to be looking in two different directions. In spite of this there were other times in which he appeared to be quite focused and looking right at us. He has absolutely stolen my heart, and I hope that he will find a family that can help him meet his full potential!

These pictures are from May, 2013.

$4,051.32
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Helen was born with encephalocele, which is type of neural tube defect that occurs very early in fetal life where the embryo’s cells that form the skull do not come together to close over the brain. The result is a defect in the bones of the skull, causing brain tissue to protrude from the skull.

Helen loves to make herself laugh. She enjoys spending her time playing, humming, and observing things around her. She is doing well and getting strong. She is able to walk with help and has recently been able to pull herself up. She loves to go outside to the playground and practice her walking. Her smile is so cute and her laugh so hearty.

Helen has had surgery, and additional information is available about her surgeries and hospitalizations. She has vision concerns, and has recently begun speaking a few words.

$3,810.44
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Corban’s physical capacity and mental development are delayed comparatively, due to his Down syndrome. As he grows older he has learned to roll over, crawl, stand by holding onto supports and walk by holding onto rails. Now he can walk forward with one of his hands led, he can distinguish familiar people and strangers. Seeing familiar people he can smile and greet them. He knows to be cooperative when dressed, give the clothes when asked, is a lovely little boy.

Corban is gentle, quiet, has a ready smile. He has Down syndrome, but it does not influence his happy life. He likes to play with toys, listen to music, can wave arms following rhythms which looks very adorable. He is willing to play games with kids, likes toys making sound, will laugh aloud when playing happily. Seeing strangers he will cry noisily because of being unfamiliar with them in the beginning. He can play with you gradually, is integrated into the games you bring to him, is a sensible good child!

Full social history and medical records available. Single moms permitted, only one parent has to travel.

Videos available.

$3,574.46
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Down syndrome, specific mixed developmental disorder, features of autism, farsightedness, atopic dermatitis, functional heart murmur, hydrocephalus. Due to a difficult birth, he was born with pneumonia, and intubated for a few days.

Listed: July 7, 2013

From a family who met him in 2015: “Heinrich ran right up to me and asked to go up, and then enjoyed a play session full of jumping. He definitely has a lot of energy, and I was amazed at his gross motor skills. He loved the play area’s rocking horse!”

UPDATE as of June 2015: Heinrich continues to make great improvements. He is communicating and asked to be picked up. He is strong, happy, and loves attention.

Update as of April 2013: His development is delayed; he recently started to walk without help, but not yet steady. Emotions are weak, play activity is primitive, throws away toys, turns them around, puts into the mouth, sucks his fingers, makes stereotypic movements with his head, swings.

He’s not yet speaking, and it’s possible he has a hearing delay. He eats with help, does not yet holds a spoon or the bottle, still it is hard for him to chew a hard food. The level of understanding is low, does not have motivation to make an activity.

$3,359.91
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Shaw was abandoned at the age of 6 months. When he was found he could crawl and he initially made progress, but by the time he was 16 months old and was sent to a foster home, he was very thin and weak. After a few months in foster care he began to thrive again. Shaw loves to eat and shows patience in all areas except when he has to wait for his food! He gets along well with others and loves bright colorful toys that make sound.

Shaw is very talkative and loves to be cuddled! He is waiting for a family that will snuggle with him and help him continue to grow.

$2,525.05
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Peter is a precious 3 year old boy diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, congenital nystagmus, and polydactyly of the right hand. His limb, language and intelligence development is fairly delayed compared to his peers.

At the age of 1, he could crawl slowly and sit alone, and make sounds unconsciously. At age 2, he could stand while holding onto handrails and could walk with one hand held. He could also understand simple instructions such as “come here” “sit down” and “drink milk.” Now, he can walk steadily, run slowly, and go up and down the stairs while holding onto handrails. He can eat a biscuit by himself and is even practicing eating with a spoon. He can imitate monosyllables and can understand most daily conversations of adults. He is very interested in games and toys, and likes to play with others. Peter is a quiet boy who always has a ready smile. He gets along well with the other children and likes playing outdoors.

$4,132.25
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Bryce can turn the book pages incessantly to read it and take out the toys he likes from the toy box. He likes riding a bike and also likes to hold a pencil to scribble. He is extroverted. He likes to look into the mirror a lot and has rich facial expressions and actions. He can swing his body excitedly when hearing music. Seeing the dancing people, he can also dance to imitate them. He likes to interact , play games and play with people very much. He gets along well with caretakers and kids. Everyone likes him very much!

$4,428.68
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Kent is an adorable baby boy who is just 1 year old! He came into care when he was 4 months old, and they began working with him immediately to strengthen his muscles. Kent has Down syndrome, and a VSD (6mm) with left atrium enlargement. He may require a surgical procedure to plug the ASD. Kent’s development is delayed, as would be expected. When he turned 1 year old, he was not yet sitting alone, or crawling. He will need more time, and attention, before he masters these milestones.

Kent is a precious baby boy. He is very alert, and very engaging. His receptive language is very good, and he is beginning to make sounds to communicate with the nannies. His favorite activity is listening to music and being hugged. I cannot argue with that! Kent needs a family to love him, and help him reach his full potential. This sweet boy is waiting for you!

$2,895.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Brody is a sweet little boy who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. He also has a heart defect in which he received surgery for his VSD, foramen ovale closure and ligation of ductus arteriosus. His treatment was successful and he is doing well now.

Brody is learning well and is he learning how to crawl. He can hold his own bottle and toys and likes to be active. He is not making sounds yet but he always has a ready smile.

$4,582.62
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Boy, Born May 2011
PRC
Down syndrome and pentalogy of fallot (heart condition)

This DARLING gift was born and left abandoned outside an apartment building. Authorities were never able to locate his parents, but thank God they found him! David has been living in an orphanage with outstanding medical care and lots of attention and love. He is so young, and will benefit so greatly from further early intervention and a loving forever family.

Full medical records, social history, and more photos available.

$3,622.59
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Alan just turned three years old, and although he can stand by himself and crawl all over the furniture, he is not quite yet able to walk. His foster father has been taking him on tricycle rides to strengthen his legs and improve his balance. Alan seems to be enjoying himself immensely!

Alan is speaking some family words such as “mama,”, “uncle,” and “sister” and is learning his colors and how to build a tower. Also, Alan can turn the pages of a book and is quite curious. Based on our reports, we can just imagine this handsome little guy snuggling on the lap of a mom or dad of his very own and read book after book. He will surely be a happy addition to some very lucky family!

Update 2014:
Alan has truly blossomed! He is very smart and also very clever! With his foster mother’s assistance he can count to ten; she is also teaching him colors and shapes. With his new found knowledge, Alan believes he is now a teacher and he can often be found teaching his younger foster sister a school lesson.

One of Alan’s favorite things to do is to play outside. Although he wishes to play outside everyday, he knows when it rains he has to stay inside and always lets his foster mother know this. Alan has great physical strength and he can run and jump. His favorite game to play is hide and seek. Alan is also a little ham and whenever the camera comes out, he will stop what he is doing and pose. He also has some pretty impressive dance moves. As soon as the music starts playing he will start dancing by shaking his hips.

$4,783.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Meet Everleigh! This pretty little one is 4 years old, and came into care as a baby. Everleigh has Down syndrome. Her motor skills and speech are a bit delayed, as expected. Everleigh loves to play with the other kids, and enjoys being outdoors. She is close to her nanny, and is very social. Everleigh’s file is from 2016, but we have request an update. She has been healthy, with the exception of typical childhood colds and viruses. Everleigh needs a family to love her, and provide any therapies she may need as she grows. She has so much potential! Everleigh is waiting for a family!

$4,689.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

A family recently met sweet Blaine while adopting their son: My son came home in December (2016) and talks non-stop about his friend. He talks about how this little one was nice to him, gave him food and shared his blanket, etc. He also talks about how mean the nannies are to this little boy. My son doesn’t have anything to say about anyone else there except they aren’t nice. Initially I took it with a grain of salt but there is another little girl adopted from there in the last year who has told her family the exact same thing. Can you imagine the heart on this little one? I adore him. I am more than willing to talk to anyone about him!

update: He has strong self-care skills!

Blaine is described by the other children from his SWI as sweet, kind, caring and helpful. Several children who are home now continue to speak about his kindness and hope that he finds a family soon. He is a gentle soul who is said to have “strong self-care abilities”. Everyone in his orphanage calls him, “good baby”. According to his SWI, he likes to communicate with people and is kind to people and he likes music and dancing. He is very tiny and was timid in person when several families met him. He patiently waited to see his little friend who had just been adopted. Blaine has Down syndrome, right cryptorchidism and a right inguinal hernia but is reported to be otherwise healthy. A family will be so blessed to add this treasure to their family!

$5,333.80
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

3 year old Quinntavius is missing his right hand. It looks as if he may have ptosis (droopy eye lid) of his left eye, but that is not a formal diagnosis. Quinntavius likes to look at picture books and be read to. He really enjoys going outside and playing and basking in the sunshine. Quinntavius has good fine motor skills and is very observant.

He knows his name and likes hearing his named called. Quinntavius has good expression and is very curious. He is a quiet boy and doesn’t cry often. He can combine actions with words, such as shaking his head no and saying no. He really likes to play with toys, especially blocks, and he enjoys rolling balls. Quinntavius sounds like a wonderful little boy who doesn’t let anything stop him. Now he just needs a forever family of his own!

Video available from spring 2017.

$3,153.30
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Boy, born May 2014
Down syndrome, specific mixed developmental disorder, average level of bronchial asthma, and an open arterial duct

Listed: March 1, 2016

Braxton is such a serious and adorable little boy!

Braxton is reported to have a psychomotor development delay: he can roll, lift up his head and chest all the way on his hands, sits with support to his back, and stands while he is held. Braxton’s emotions are not expressed yet, he smiles after stimulation. He is not actively interested in the environment, very often pays attention to his hands and legs. He eats from a spoon and is fed, drinks from a bottle and has good appetite. Braxton falls asleep fast and his sleep is calm. He will need future speech therapy, a special education teacher, social worker and physical therapy.

Braxton is reported to be doing very well and much better than described.

$2,823.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

From a family that met him 12/15:
Joey is a tiny, smiley little guy who loves attention and hugs! He was so happy to sit on my lap for a hug, to show me the little stuffed animal and toys he was holding and to have his picture taken! He is verbal and said things like, “Cheese!” when having his picture taken, and “Can I see?” to see the photo stored in the camera. He will make a sweet addition to any family and he will simply thrive with the love of a Mama and Papa poured into him! He is in the same place as Chester and Byron – the last three orphans left in their institution.

$3,107.55
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Josh just turned 2 and is adorable! Josh has Down syndrome, loves to listen to music and can turn over on his own. He is also great at crawling like a champ and can say a few words! He has 2 great big dimples when he smiles, and he smiles often! Josh is active, and loves to play games with his caretakers, adjusted well to them and is developing well! In an update from the beginning of December, Josh had great eye contact and was very curious. He is starting to talk, recognizes his name, and loves chocolate and dumplings (what a combo!)

$4,153.46
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Elsa is just adorable! She is incredibly charming, and sweet. Elsa has Down syndrome with the expected delays, but was walking at 2 years old. She has no known heart issues. She lives with a foster family, who have made sure she has a good diet, plenty of fresh air, and all the hugs she wants(she likes warm hugs)! Elsa is ready to let it go and have a family of her own and will waste no time in wrapping them around her little finger.

$3,441.73
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Lee is extremely intelligent. He currently attends class in the little brothers and sisters class. In class, he is learning art and dance. Lee likes to watch cartoons. He will laugh while captively watching them. If you play with him and poke his tummy with your fingers, he will grab his shirt and pull it up; he will then quickly pull it back down to cover his tummy, not letting you see it. His eyes will look slyly at you and then he will secretly laugh. Lee is very intelligent. Even though he is unable to clearly express his own thoughts verbally for the time being, his body language abilities are extremely strong. He can use his hands to signal to you “Greetings”, “Thank you” and other types of movements. Lee is really adorable and intelligent. He is an extremely charming little boy. Help us find Lee’s forever family!

$2,713.50
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

updated picture/info August 2016:
Lucas LOVES music!!! They have him a music player, and he is SO happy with it!!! Unfortunately it looks like he get a some sedative medicines, but of course everybody denies it. He is mostly non-verbal, but he CAN say: I want to eat! You know WHY he CAN say it, don’t you?
He is waiting for a family since 2014! He will be transferred very soon to the place where he won’t live very long. He needs a family ASAP!

updated picture/information 4/16!This boy used to cry a lot before. He needs his family ASAP! Recently he was at health and recreation resort where lots of nationals spend their vacation. So he got good social experience and made good progress in his communication skills. He has a good potential. If he is not chosen for adoption within next year they will place him in a handicapped children and adults orphanage forever where more likely he will be a bedridden person with no chance for normal life.

$2,502.00
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

Melvin has a ready smile, claps his hands when he is happy, and waves good-bye. He is a very active little boy who likes to play with toys, especially if he can throw them! He also likes to sit on the small hobbyhorse and can get on and off on his own. He walks with help. This little cutie will rock himself right into your heart!

$3,224.38
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!

From a family who met him in 2015: “Zeke is seriously one smart cookie!! He is walking GREAT now and was even jumping from a play mattress to join in the fun. He actually knows a few words in English as well, and I taught him to fist bump (and blow it up, ha ha) when I came in and he remembered it when I left and hour and a half later. I was blown away by his attention to detail in the books we were reading — he will excel academically. He was very attached to the American volunteer who is regularly in his groupa — all of the kids love her and are lucky to have her attention.”

From a family who met him in Summer 2015:
He appears to be of normal size for his age. He He can focus for pretty significant amounts of time if the activity interests him. We are now able to sit and flip through entire books together, taking time to figure out what is going on from the pictures on each page. He has become very good at identifying the characters’ emotions from their facial expressions and makes reasonable guesses as to why they feel how they do.

He is pretty stable when sitting. He’s not falling out of chairs or off of benches or anything. Sure, he falls sometimes when he runs, but the kid is running! He has been walking and running for a few years now; the boy dances!

He might be slightly cognitively delayed for his age, but he is a very quick learner and strikes me as very intelligent. We have as normal of conversations as I imagine are possible with a 6 year old. He has impressed me recently with some clever remarks that are evidence of him thinking quickly and independently, rather than just just parroting what his caretakers say. His emotional control has improved vastly. He just needs a calm presence when frustrated. For example, we were working with buttons the other day, and when he started getting frustrated and saying he couldn’t do it, I just calmly told him that it’s hard, that he’s really close, and that he’s totally capable, and he was able to complete the task.

Although he does still enjoy some solitary games, he’s becoming a lot more social. He always takes me around the yard to introduce me to people and knows everyone by name. He’s a pretty calm, happy guy, especially when there are calm, warm adults to help him get over little obstacles.

December 2014 UPDATE: A U.S. mom had these observations about Zeke: He’s a doll! He’s cheerful, helpful, and very friendly. Every time we entered the room he was the first to greet us (Labas!!). Zeke has a little issue with following directions. I don’t know him well enough to be able to distinguish if it was a willful issue or a cognitive issue. As far as I know he has FAS and possibly very mild CP effecting his legs/ Achilles’ tendon. Zeke is a very likable kiddo!

Update from a volunteer who spent extensive time with him:
I met Zeke in the summer of 2010 while volunteering; in the years that I’ve known him, Zeke has made considerable physical, cognitive and emotional progress, and has become an active, curious, quirky, good-natured, and nurturing young boy. As his physical abilities have improved, he has become much more independent, both dressing and feeding himself. He does, however, need some direction and encouragement with these endeavors. Zeke best completes such tasks when given positive reinforcement and clear sequence of events to follow. For example, if simply given a pile of clothes, he often has trouble focusing his attention. It is more effective to ask him what he needs to do first, second, and third, and to tell him how quick/good he is when he has completed a step in the sequence. If he is feeling unmotivated, it can be helpful to tap into his nurturing side (ex. “Put your socks on! Your feet will get cold and wonder why you didn’t dress them!”) or to incentivize him with tickling—his favorite activity in the world.

In the past year, Zeke has become an avid performer, bravely singing in dancing during musical lessons and performances in the children’s home. Even half a year ago, he would need a bit of coaxing to get up and join the other children in song. During this year’s holiday show, however, when the music teacher asked for volunteers to stand up and perform, Zeke was the first to rise to the challenge. He also really enjoys musical children’s films, often performing the routines from memory during playtime. One of his favorite toys is a little piano with a microphone into which he sings his favorite songs.
Zeke has a few other favorite games, which mostly revolve around caretaking and repetition. For instance, following the examples of the caretakers, he feeds, bathes and swaddles dolls, making sure to lovingly and carefully execute these tasks in the correct order each time; when waiting for the thermometer to show the doll’s temperature, he pets her head, rocking her back and forth. Another current favorite of his is petting me and telling me not to cry in a concerned, soft voice. After establishing that he has comforted me, he gets in his toy car, wishes me all the best, drives around the room, and comes back to take care of me again. Zeke has also grown to love animals, and when given the chance to be with a dog or horse, he always pets them, sweetly telling the animals that they are good and that he loves them.

Zeke is an incredibly nurturing, loving child, and delights in physical affection. He loves to be petted and hugged, and gladly returns the favor. He is very concerned with maintaining good relationships with the adults in his life and is sensitive to admonition. If he is beyond the point of being motivated by positive reinforcement, a serious look and stern voice usually suffice. If he sees that he has accidentally hurt me, he becomes quiet and sad, and seeks reassurance that everything is ok. Zeke is less sensitive with respect to the children around him, as he is possessive of his favorite toys and the other children habitually seek what another has. In the last few months, however, Zeke has made a great deal of progress expressing his emotions and restraining himself when he gets upset. Whereas he would previously go after the child to repossess his toy, I have consistently responded by wrapping an arm around him, telling him that we will all gladly help him if he calmly explains to us what is wrong, and he is now much better at seeking our help and articulating his feelings. When he is agitated, it’s best to take a calm, light-hearted approach to ease the tension; he thinks it’s hilarious when adults copy his little squeals and shenanigans, so he usually laughs if I playfully copy his whining, which gets him out of his rut and allows us to calmly seek a solution.

All in all, Zeke is a joyful, enthusiastic, loving child who responds to physical affection, positive reinforcement, and clearly established expectations. He has a friendly attitude towards new people, and seeks a great deal of hugs from the adults in his life. I have the utmost confidence that with patient, gentle and loving guidance, Zeke will continue to grow into a capable, kind young man who will enrich the lives of those around him. In the five years that I’ve spent with Zeke, he has certainly filled my life with more love than I could have possibly imagined.

$4,315.21
has been donated towards the cost of my adoption!

Your gift will serve ALL of the children, as 10% of each Waiting Child Donation is shared with our Voice of Hope fund, as well!